Device for forming snow barriers



April 1969 G. w. ANDERSON I 3,435,545 DEVICE FOR FORMING snow BARRIERS...

.Filed May 4, 1967 4 INVENTOR G y Mfinaeraon BY Li /A52 s H fro/Pmv United States Patent 3,435,545 DEVICE FOR FORMING SNOW BARRIERS George W. Anderson, 1624 Jackson St., Sioux City, Iowa 51105 Filed May 4, 1967, Ser. No. 636,091 Int. Cl. E01h 4/00; E02d 1.7/20

US. Cl. 37-10 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for building a snow barrier including an elevator for raising fallen snow and dropping it selectively in the form of a wall. The device is adapted for pulling by a farm-type tractor.

My invention relates to a device for forming snow barriers.

An object of my invention is to provide a device which will take the place of the snow fencing usually required, and will thereby prevent the snow from blowing into fields and the like, and whereby the barrier itself will be formed of snow, and which barrier will thence melt in the spring or warmer months, so that in effect the snow barrier can be erected without requiring the use of slatted or other snow fence structures, and will disappear at the proper time, thereby eliminating the need for removing the snow fence, etc.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of this type which can be conveniently attached and driven from a variety of different types of machines such as tractors or the like and which is simple in operation and use.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully se forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of FIGURE 2 with fragmentary sections,

FIGURE 4 is a forward view of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 55 of FIGURE 2.

My invention contemplates the provision of a device which can be drawn by, and driven by any suitable machine or vehicle, and which will gather snow upon the ground and then automatically form a barrier or wall of this snow thereby providing a snow fence or barrier for the necessary purpose of preventing snow from blowing into the fields and the like, and then whereby such barrier will melt during the Warmer seasons, thereby eliminating the need for cumbersome machines or equipment for erecting and removing snow fences of the slatted or other types.

In describing my invention, I have used the character to designate a air of metal or other material side walls which are spaced apart as shown and extend vertically and which merge the arcuate portions 11.

The portions 11 extend into the outwardly flared portions 12 to which are attached the lower plate 14. Attached across the portions 12 at 15 is a strap 16 which provides means for hitching at 17 the bars 18 which extend to the tractor or any other vehicle which is to draw the arrangement, it being that any other type of hitch could be employed also.

The character 19 indicates a vertically positioned wall having 'an opening 20 (see FIGURE 4) which communicates directly with the lower open end of a cylindrical 3,435,545 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 'ice tube 25 which rests within the portions 11, and which includes the helical conveyor 26 therein, the conveyor 26 including the shaft 27 which is journalled in the journal 28 attached to the base plate 14, the shaft 27 also being journalled 'at its upper end within a further journal 29 attached within the substantially U-shape-d housing member 30. Attached to the tubular member 25 are the bearings 31 which receive a further shaft 32 to which shaft is attached the universal joint 33 which is attached to the shaft 34 which is driven from the power takeoff or other source of the tractor or other vehicle, and attached to the upper end of the shaft 32 is a sprocket 35 'which engages a sprocket chain 36 which in turn engages a sprocket 37 attached to the shaft 27.

The tubular member 25 includes the elongated opening 38 therein which extends the entire length of the tube.

The character 39 indicates a pair of skids or ski-shaped members terminating at 40 beneath the plate 14 and the character 41 indicates a further substantially U-shaped structure attached to the skids 39, etc., to provide further support and bracing means, the character 42 indicating the manner in which the enclosure 30 is attached to the upper edges of the walls 10. v

If desired, a small electrically heated unit 43 can be secured beneath the tube 25, the purpose of which will be later explained.

The device operates in the following manner.

After the first snow fall, and when it is desired to erect the snow barrier for the purpose of acting as a snow fence and the like, the arrangement is hitched to a tractor by means of the members 18, or to a three point hitch if such is desired or in any other manner, and the device is then pulled over the field in the direction of the arrow 44.

The snow will be gathered and concentrated between the flared portions 12 and will pass over the lower plate 14 directly into the tube 25 whereupon the auger 26 which will be driven by means of the shaft 34 from the vehicle and by the shaft 32, etc., will elevate the snow to the upper opening 45 of the tube 25, and the snow will fall by gravity between the rear portions 46 of the walls or members 10, and also meanwhile a substantial amount of the snow will drop through the lengthened opening 38, so that in effect, a relatively high wall of snow will be deposited, and as the device travels forwardly, the effect of the walls 10 and the portions 46 will be to concentrate the snow and pack it together as well as to smooth off the exterior surfaces of the barrier, so that as the device travels, this barrier will thus be formed for the necessary purpose. The member 43 can be used if desired, and in many cases may not be required, however the heat generated in this member will have the tendency of melting the snow at this point so that it will fall in a more or less solid form to assist in providing a homogeneous mass to assist in forming and smoothing off the sides of the bar- Her.

The barrier of course can be made of any desired heighth consistent with the depth of the snow fallen, and the device can be used for other purposes as well wherein a complete enclosure is desired such as skating rinks, etc., and during the warmer months, the barrier will melt and disappear, this arrangement thereby eliminating the need for snow fences of the slatted type which must be erected and then removed.

It should be specifically understood that slight alterations could be made without departing from the basic spirit of my invention, and it will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of'my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and

it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for forming snow barriers comprising a pair of horizontally spaced vertical walls, means for gathering snow and conveying the same upwardly to be deposited between said walls, said means including an angularly positioned tube and an auger in said tube; forwardly positioned, outwardly flared portions extending from said vertical walls; a horizontally positioned plate attached between said flared portions; skids attached to the bottom of said walls and means for drawing said device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,654,311 12/1927 Schwenke 37-45 1,764,084 6/1930 Nelson 3745 3,308,563 3/1967 Danek 37-45 'RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primaly Examiner. 

